Sam Newman says Rex Hunt is seeking mental health help after footy legend’s roadside medical drama

Footy Show star Sam Newman has revealed his friend Rex Hunt is ‘not in a good place’ as the AFL legend seeks help for his ‘mental problems’ after being rushed to hospital when he suffered a medical episode behind the wheel of his car.

The Richmond great called police for assistance after pulling over on the Princes Freeway while driving to Geelong at 2am on January 17 and was promptly taken for treatment.

Newman said he visited Hunt in hospital and the star player turned TV and radio host is being helped and receiving support from his mates.

‘Rex was a good footballer, he played in two premierships, and he has been a great radio caller and a world-class fisherman … and despite all of that, Rex, he is having some mental problems,’ Newman said on the You Cannot Be Serious podcast on Wednesday.

Hunt (pictured in a photo taken while he was in hospital in 2022) was rushed to hospital after calling police from his car on January 17

Newman said that while his mate is receiving support in hospital, he also has to ‘help himself before everyone else tries to help you’

‘We are trying to support him to say, “Rex, you have got to help yourself before everyone else tries to help you”.

‘He is not in a good place, but he should, if he has got any experience in life about what made him a good footballer or what made him good on the radio or what made him a world-class fisherman, if he used those principles to try and guide him, he might take a turn for the better.’

Former Mayor of Brighton and long-time friend of Hunt, John Locco, said the footy icon is recuperating and is being supported by friends and family.

‘There are a lot of people that hold Rex in high esteem and we are concerned and supporting him,’ Mr Locco said.

Hunt (pictured with Dustin Martin after Richmond’s 2017 grand final win) caused concern over his mental with worrying social media posts last year 

‘He can count on our support, affection and friendship.’

Hunt, a former AFL player, won a premiership with Richmond and also played for both St Kilda and Geelong.

He then became the pre-eminent football broadcaster in the 1990s thanks to his excitable, high-energy commentary style and also hosted a long-running TV fishing show.

In July last year Hunt’s friends and fans feared for his health after he had a public spat with a motorist and posted increasingly bizarre social media rants.